Benefits Enrollment and Eligibility

  • Online Insurance Enrollment

    Open Enrollment is the time of year when employees may enroll in benefit plans without a qualifying life event. Enrollment is online and must be completed on or before open enrollment ends. Late enrollment is NOT accepted. All covered employees who do not make any changes to their medical plan coverage during the September 30 - October 25, 2024 Open Enrollment Period for 2025 Plan Year automatically default to the traditional 70/30 coverage plan to be effective January 1, 2025. ALL medical covered employees have to complete the "Smoking Attestation" wellness credit in order to receive the discount premiums for the 2024 and 2025 calendar years.  Effective July 1, 2024, tobacco users who wish to earn the Premium Credit for 2025 must have completed a tobacco cessation counseling session by NOVEMBER 30, 2024 with your Primary Care Provider or CVS Minute Clinic. Note: If employees combine their tobacco cessation visit with another service, there may be a copay.  Any employee who is not currently enrolled in a health coverage plan will not have health insurance coverage during the 2024 coverage plan year.  Please note: Enrollment in a Flexible Spending Account is required every year.  

    How it works:

    • After a visit with the PCP for the tobacco cessation session, the provider will submit a claim on behalf of the employee SHP member. To ensure credit is received for the visit, employee SHP members can upload the office visit summary to the “Document Center” located in eBenefits, the State Health Plan’s enrollment system.  Make sure to request a copy of their summary during their visit.
    • This action is ONLY for tobacco users who want to reduce their monthly premium by $60 per month in 2025. If an employee SHP member is NOT a tobacco user, simply attest to that online.
    • During Open Enrollment, the Tobacco Attestation MUST be completed during the online enrollment process. This step is critical to ensure an employee SHP member receives the lower premium for 2025.

    2024 State Health Plan Information:

    Click the following link for important 2024 new plan information: 2024 Benefit Information which includes the Clear Pricing Project Provider Copay Comparison Chart

    Link to 2024 SHP Decision Guide:  2024 Decision Guide

    Link to 2024 7/30 Plan Overview: 70/30 Plan Information

    Link to 2024  80/20 Plan Overview:  80/20 Plan Information 

    2025 Open Enrollment Information: CHANGE FROM BCBS TO AETNA 

    Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the State Health Plan is switching Third-Party Administrator (TPA) services from Blue Cross NC to Aetna. SHP looks forward to enhanced benefits that Aetna will offer members. Aetna stands ready to serve members and is working hard to make the transition as seamless as possible.

    For 2025, the State Health Plan will continue to offer two Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, the Base PPO Plan (70/30) and the Enhanced PPO Plan (80/20). There are no benefits changes and copays and deductibles are staying the same.

    ACTION REQUIRED! All members will be automatically enrolled in the Base PPO Plan (70/30), which will have an $85 subscriber-only premium. You can reduce this premium by $60 to a $25 subscriber-only premium by completing the tobacco attestation.

    Members who wish to enroll in the Enhanced PPO Plan (80/20) or who wish to reduce their monthly premium in either the Enhanced PPO Plan (80/20) or the Base PPO Plan (70/30) by completing the tobacco attestation MUST TAKE ACTION during Open Enrollment, which is Sept. 30 - Oct. 25, 2024.

    During Open Enrollment, all members will need to RE-SELECT a Primary Care Provider (PCP) in order to continue to enjoy lower copays when visiting that provider in 2025. Members will do this during the Open Enrollment online process in eBenefits, the Plan's enrollment system.

    CLICK ANY OF THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO ACCESS ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS, SUPPORT OR INFORMATION: 

    State Health Plan New Hire Step-by-Step Enrollment Instructions

    Instructions to Select or Update your Primary Care Provider

    State Health Plan Article 3B. for Teachers & State Employees

    Qualifying Life Events

    Adding Newborn to State Health Plan Instructions - MUST be added within 30 DAYS of Birth

     

     

    New Hire Eligibility

    You are eligible for benefits as a full time or part-time employee of Guilford County Schools. Some benefits are required while others are elective. 

    Open Enrollment & New Hire Instructions for NC STATE HEALTH PLAN ("BCBS")

    The State Health Plan provides health care coverage for full-time and part-time employees. While GCS may pay for some benefits, you must enroll in all benefits you want to participate in within thirty (30) days of your actual hire date. As you enroll please take advantage of the information offered to you regarding each plan. If you miss this deadline, you must wait until the next open enrollment period unless you experience a qualifying status change during the year. (See Mid-year Changes below for additional information.) Employees are encouraged to enroll early at www.shpnc.org or https://shp.nctreasurer.com using the following general instructions: 

    1. Scroll down midway the page and Click "eBenefits for Enrollment" in the first blue box
    2. Scroll down to the first gold box and Click on the tab "Access Your Benefits via eBenefits" 
    3. Enter your Username:  Your first name, first letter of your last name and the last four of your social security number
    4. Enter your Password: Your social security number no spaces or dashes                 

               Example: Name - John Smith / SS# 111-22-3333   

                      Username:  JOHNS3333

                      Password:   111223333

    1. Click: Log in
    2. Click "Enroll Now!" to begin your enrollment process
    3. You will be prompted to change your password; follow the online instructions to change your password 

    2024 State Health Plan Traditional 70/30 Plan  

    2024 State Health Plan Enhanced 80/20 Plan

    High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) for part-time and other eligible employees

     

    Open Enrollment & New Hire Instructions for MARK III FLEX BENEFITS 

    NOTE:  ALL new hires MUST complete Current 2024 Plan Year Enrollment and Open Enrollment for the 2025 Benefit Plan Year when it is available to ensure coverage for 2024. The Flex Benefits are an array of additional insurances available to full-time employees such as:  Dental, Life, Vision, Supplemental Disability, Cancer, Whole Life, Flex Spending Account (FSA) and Legal Shield. While GCS may pay for some benefits, you must enroll in all benefits you want to participate in within thirty (30) days of your hire date. If you miss this deadline, you must wait until the next open enrollment period unless you experience a qualifying status change during the year. Flex Benefits details and informational videos are available by clicking on the following link:http://www.markiiibrokerage.com/guilfordcountyschoolsnc/  Open Enrollment for Plan Year 2025 is September 30 - October 25, 2024.

    Click the following link to open, view and download the PDF Flex Benefits 2024 Plan Year Booklet:  FLEX BENEFITS 2025 PLAN YEAR BOOKLET.     Part-time employees with prorated benefits are not eligible to enroll in Flex Benefits.  The Mark III, Flex Benefits, Customer Call Center telephone number is (844) 774-6432.

    To Enroll or Decline Flex Benefits please go to https://www.mymarkiii.com/gcsnc 

       Flexible Benefits Enrollment Video Instructions Link:  Flex Benefits Enrollment Video

    1. Click ENROLL NOW
    2. Your "Employee ID or Social Security Number": social security number, no spaces and no dashes
    3. Your "Personal Identification Number (PIN)" is the last four (4) numbers of your social security number and the last two (2) digits of your year of birth  
    4. Click:  LOGIN

    EXAMPLE:  John Doe's Social Security Number 111-00-2222 / Born the year of 1999
    "Employee ID or Social Security Number":     111002222
    "Personal Identification Number (PIN)":         222299

           

           You must enroll or decline coverage online and you must enter a beneficiary for the FREE GCS $10000 Group Basic Life Insurance from Standard Insurance Company for the 2024 Plan Year for all full-time employees.

    If you are unable to login, please call (336) 370-8348, Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

     

    Employee Eligibility

    Benefits eligibility is determined by position status and regular hours worked. Permanent employees who work at least 30 hours per week are eligible to receive employer paid medical benefits and basic life insurance for themselves. Employees must enroll in the benefits to be covered.

    Dependent Eligibility

    If you are eligible to participate in the benefits offered through GCS, your eligible dependents may also participate. Proof of dependent status for newly enrolled dependents is required. The following documents may be used to prove dependent status: marriage certificate, divorce documentation, birth certificate, court documents, etc.

    Open Enrollment

    Open enrollment is the one time each year you have the opportunity to make changes to your benefits. You can change your plan type, as well as add or drop coverage. You may also change whom you cover on your insurance during this time. Any changes made during open enrollment must remain until the following open enrollment period, unless you have a qualifying life change event. If you do not enroll in benefit plans when you are first hired, open enrollment allows you to enroll without any qualifying event. Health and Flex Benefit insurance enrollment is completed online, while some types of insurance require enrollment forms. These forms may be found at Forms and Handbooks. 

    Late Enrollment

    If you do not submit your paperwork to the Benefits office within the first 30 days of your actual hire date, you may not be able to enroll in any plans until open enrollment. If you have a qualifying life change event during the year, you may be allowed to enroll at that time. See “Mid-Year Changes” below for additional information. If you do enroll after your first 30 days, you may be subject to a waiting period and/or pre-existing condition limitations and exclusions.

    Mid-year Changes

    The enrollment options you select will remain in effect until the end of the plan year. You will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to make changes unless you experience a qualifying life event, per the IRS.
    Any request received after 30 days of a qualifying event or that does not meet the definition of a qualifying event will not be processed.

    High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

    Click here to access the website and attain additional information about the High Deductible Health Plan, the NC General Assembly recently approved legislation, enrollment and HDHP Resources.

    This plan is for Newly Eligible Employees (Substitutes, Interims and Returning Retirees).  Click  Here   for HDHP 2024 Plan Year Information

    Please note this plan utilizes the MedCost PPO Network - NOT Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina - and does not include NC HealthSmart resources. Contact Guilford County Schools HR Benefits Department to determine your eligibility at (336) 370-8348

    For questions about enrollment, call the Enrollment and Billing Support Center at (855) 442-6272

    For questions about the Pharmacy benefit, call CVS Caremark at 1-888-321-3124

    Important Information on How the State Health Plan Benefits and Medicare Benefits Work Together

    The State Health Plan provides extensive information to help Guilford County School employees, retirees and those individuals who are thinking of retiring understand how the State Health Plan Benefits work with your Medicare Benefits. It is highly recommended that you thoroughly explore this summary to help you better understand and decide which plan is right for you. Please click on the following link to access this important information:  State Health Plan: Retirement and Medicare